There were two contenders for India’s best batting spot in Test cricket, the other being Rishabh Pant, who played two sensational knocks, both in the fourth innings against Australia earlier this year. But Aakash Chopra picked Rohit Sharma, who scored 906 runs in 21 innings at 48.19 with two centuries and four fifties in the year 2021.
Aakash Chopra: Rohit Sharma Best Test Batsman For India In 2021 And Ravichandran Ashwin Best Test Bowler In 2021
The veteran cricketer turned commentator admitted that 2021 will remain a pivotal year for Rohit Sharma as it showed a different side of his batting in Test cricket. Aakash Chopra was particularly impressed with Rohit Sharma’s performance in the England 4 Test tour earlier this summer, where he scored 497 runs, facing 1136 deliveries, at 45.18 with a century and three fifties.
“From an Indian standpoint, we have Rishabh Pant. He was the one who helped India conquer Gabba and he even scored in Sydney. But my Test batter of the year is Rohit Sharma. And when Test cricket’s history will be written, and 2021 will be remembered as the pivotal year for Rohit Sharma as a Test cricketer. The year showed that he has finally fallen in love with the format.”
“He has learned how to defend the ball, and leave the ball. He scored runs in difficult English conditions. The Chennai knock in the second innings – he was on one side and the rest of the players were on the different side altogether – that was the quality of his batting. We still have one more Test match to go, but without a doubt, he has to be my Test batter of the year,” he said speaking on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra then picked Ravichandran Ashwin as the best Test bowler. The off-spinner picked 52 wickets (most in 2021) at just 16.2 and also became India’s third-highest wicket-taker surpassing Harbhajan Singh. Aakash Chopra was impressed as Ravichandran Ashwin became the lead wicket-taker in 2021 despite sitting out of the Test at Gabba for injury in Australia and the 4 Tests in England as Ravindra Jadeja was preferred over him.
“We had Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah is also there. But my Test bowler of the year will be Ravichandran Ashwin. He did not play at the Gabba and missed the England tour, hence missing five Tests in 2021. He also scored runs as a batsman, notched up a century as well.
“But here I’m talking about Ashwin the bowler, who has picked 52 wickets in 8 Tests. Had he played those five Tests, he would have taken 70 wickets. He has been sensational and he will eventually surpass Kapil Dev’s tally as well,” he said.
Aakash Chopra then named Rohit Sharma as the best T20I batsman before naming him as the best cricketer in 2021. Aakash Chopra also picked Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler in the format.
“Kl Rahul? But he didn’t score that many runs. Neither did Virat Kohli. Suryakumar Yadav is also there. Ishan Kishan played a couple of good knocks. But if you just look at the numbers and the impact and the performances, it’s once again, Rohit Sharma.
“And this year has been different because his strike rate has improved significantly and so did his average. And he has also been made the T20I skipper. He has indeed been the best T20I batter. This is the year of Rohit Sharma. In fact, if you ask me to pick the best player from 2021, I would go with Rohit.”
Team India opener Rohit Sharma became second India and third overall to score 3,000 T20I runs. Rohit Sharma reached the feat during the 2021 T20 World Cup game against Namibia on Monday. The opener reached the milestone with a six, becoming the third cricketer after fellow teammate Virat Kohli and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill to breach the 3000-run mark in the shortest format of the game.
Rohit Sharma reached the mark in his 116th T20I. The 34-year-old, who has been recently appointed T20I and ODI skipper made his debut in the shortest format of the game in 2007.
Aakash Chopra Names Axar Patel As The Best Debutant For 2021 For Any Team
Aakash Chopra signed off picking left-arm spinner Axar Patel as the best debutant for 2021. Having made his maiden Test appearance in the home series against England, Axar Patel picked 36 wickets in five Tests at just 11.86 with five five-wicket hauls.
“Axar has changed the way India have played Test cricket. He picked five five-wicket hauls in five Tests. Even Don Bradman didn’t score five centuries in five Tests. And it’s equivalent of that. Not just India, he has been the overall best debutant in 2021.”
Axar Patel contributed with 52 and 41* runs in the recently-concluded second Test to help India take the upper hand against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai before India won the 2nd Test comprehensively by 372 runs. In only 5 Tests, he has scored 179 runs averaging 29.83, and taken 36 scalps averaging a mere 11.86.
The left-arm spinner has had a dream start to his Test career. He bagged 27 wickets in 3 Tests in his debut series versus England besides taking a five-wicket haul on a slow Kanpur pitch against New Zealand before injury ruled him out of the South Africa tour.